I remember the original design perfectly, and you are absolutely right, I was inspired by the skeletal forms of dinosaur bones. It's pretty cool that you were able to discern that!

I've looked for the original photo I took of the vertebra, but it seems to be lost in the archives. I can't confirm that it was of an Apatosaurus vertebra exactly, but it's quite possible. I was at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco and took a number of photos that day.

Nature renders complex and beautiful designs; I often find myself drawn to studying organic forms and patterns as inspiration in my vehicle designs.

Science is awesome — especially when it finds its way into our favorite science fiction universes in unexpected ways. [via SVPOD]